Exploring Social Inequality, Hierarchy, and Economic Mobility

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of social inequality and hierarchy, exploring how resources are unequally distributed within society. It examines the concept of social stratification and the factors that contribute to it, including wealth, income, education, and opportunities. The essay delves int...Read More

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Social inequality and Hierarchy
Social inequality is used by sociologists to describe a situation where resource
distribution is unequal. They use social stratification to categories people to various categories
depending on resources accessible to them (Jansen, p.536). This resources include wealth,
opportunities, positions and rewards. People are divided into different categories which have
implications on social inequality, social characteristics, identities and roles. Social differentiation
does not imply that people are differentiated based on power, privilege, rank or hierarchy.
However, when other people can claim a greater share of resources based on the social category
like gender, race and class, this becomes a basis for social inequality. Social inequality areas in
life include freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and even voting rights. Additionally, access
to healthcare, education, travelling, housing, transportation, and social services or goods.
Sometimes it can be seen as the quality of the neighborhood or family. Sometimes some
legislations can lead to social inequality. Arguably with this in mind, one can say that income
inequality limits the degree of those without capital from ascending the social hierarchy; is a
false statement. A person’s hierarchy in the society is not directly linked to their earning
potential, but other factors come into play (Calder, p.567).

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According to sociologists however, social stratification is system making inequalities
apparent, this does not have much to do with income. Inequalities have always existed, but
sociologists are keen on larger patterns which show the inequalities. This is based on a system
which leads to inequalities and this cannot point particularly to the poor or the rich. Stratification
can vary form one society to another, but most societies base inequality of wealth, assets, value
of money, income and wages. Many factors influence the social standing of a person, despite the
general classification of rich and poor. In some cultures, charisma and wisdom could be seen as
wealth. Therefore, income alone cannot be conclusively said to be the
Education is one of the causes of immobility in the social hierarchy. According to the
Organization for Economic Development report one of the causes of the immobility is lack of the
opportunity to get an education. A report by Organization for Economic Development found out
that climbing the social harder is hard in America than anywhere else. When an increased
number of people have access to education it increases information which people have and forms
knowledge. A good example is when scientific findings are utilized, it becomes a good source of
competitiveness. Research in households, show that most households have breadwinners with
tertiary education; and those with only primary of secondary education have the risk of poverty.
When one has a higher level of education, they have the option of accessing certain disposable
means of income, thus reducing the risk of poverty. Increasing the level of education, increases
the number of people who are likely to be employed and have an income. Increasing education
also will reduce inequalities, and increase the percentage of people whom earnings will be
distributed to, thus reducing the number of people at risk of becoming poor.
Lack of mobility is not only a social problem but there is also a link to the economic
imperative. Despite the positive changes in the United States, when the economy is slowly

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growing, it becomes a big problem to upward mobility. Economic growth ensures that incomes
are improved and there is job creation. This ensures that at least the current generation is better
than the previous generation. There is a link between mobility and growth, where rungs of
income is measured as one goes up the ladder. Research has shown a strong link between
mobility and economic growth. Despite a weak link, economic growth creates a local tax base,
which creates a greater capital for investment in schools, hospitals and infrastructure promoting
the general well-being and improving the lives of people. Economic growth creates opportunities
also which in turn creates conditions which improve mobility. Economic growth creates
opportunities which promote upward movement. Most of the time, folks who want to get ahead,
move to places with better prospects and most of the times they are likely to succeed. Therefore,
apart from income, the economic growth of an area determines the general mobility of people.
Additionally, social mobility is hindered by inequality in the social structure, the existing
gap keeps widening and it is hard to climb the ladder. Evidence shows that it is hard for children
to improve their lot with a lot of inequality. When the wealth ladder is far apart, it makes it
harder to climb the ladder. It becomes a vicious cycle and inequality in one generation, affects
the next and making it even harder for the following generations. Increased inequality only
means that one takes more risks in entrepreneurship while keeping up with the changes in
technology. Some entrepreneurs become luckier and their ideas do better, hence ripping greater
rewards. Therefore, individuals who are industrious only receive more because of the extra work.
Increased inequality in this scenario shows that the outcomes depend on factors beyond an
individual’s control (Cowen, p. 29). It is not a surprise therefore that unequal opportunities lead
to unequal outcomes (Littler, p.89).

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Income alone does not seem to determine the outcomes. Sometimes, a person’s effort will
determine how their outcome will be. In the United states, popular belief is that people have an
equal opportunity to be successful (Cowen, p.29). To a certain extent is has been demonstrated
that self-effort is a determinant of a person’s success. In America, working hard has always been
seen as the virtue leading to opportunity and success. Many workers have subscribed to this
belief. However, evidence shows that Americans work longer hours and even have less holidays,
but this has not led to a better life. Economists argue that working hard as a factor to prosperity is
too simplistic and whether hard work alone is enough to uplift people, is a tough question.
Working hard is only complemented when one meets the right opportunities (Firebaugh, Glenn,
& Matthew, p.805).
On the other hand, Inequality in income is one of the reasons people get unequal
outcomes in the society. This is evident when inequality of income is put against lack of access
to health, education and nutrition. This makes people have unequal outcomes while at the same
time have unequal opportunities as well. The variations of the well –being of human beings is
determined by the income. People with higher incomes, are in a position to get ahead in life and
secure their well-being. Research shows that in the poor people quantile, 40% of children are
underweight compared to 15% of those who are wealthy. Income inequality determines the
extent to which a person gets ahead in life and the duration. If people have equal income, they
can start their lives on a level ground or equal starting points. Inequality income affects the
ability to invest in businesses, proper education thus hindering growth rate. Business investment,
or investing in other things like housing and assets, can positively affects a person’s income, and
improve their credit. If a person’s income is low, they are less likely to invest and less likely to
make more money, hence they are likely to be stuck in a certain social standing. Education is

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also an important factor, which is affected by income. In America, lack of proper education and
education opportunities is because of lack of income. Disposable income means one can choose
to go to particular schools and get the best education. Education can positively impact a person’s
life because it expands the scope of opportunities.
Inequality and income and wealth are important when discussing the subject of
inequality. However, income and wealth alone are not sufficient to explain inequality.
Sometimes biasness in the public policy, and patterns of biasness, in opportunities and
infrastructure leas to inequality. Such biasness ensures that certain regions rip maximum benefits
and ultimately emerge as more developed and having a better standing compared to their
counterparts (Payne, p.220).
Conclusion
According to Piketty and Saez, inequality has been there for a long time and it was very
high a century ago (Piketty, Thomas, & Emmanuel Saez, p.838). The issue of income and the
distribution of wealth is a controversial topic which has widely been discussed. In the 19th
century Karl max believed that accumulation of capital by private individuals led to
concentration of wealth on the hands of a few. However, this has evolved over the years due to
technological advancements and different countries have different outcomes in regards to
historical circumstances (Kahneman, p.1908). Countries need to make an effort to reduce social
barriers to moving up the ladder. When it becomes hard to climb the social ladder, it means that
skills and human talent will be wasted. When there is also lack of equal opportunities, it will lead
to lack of motivation, efforts and eventually affect the economy. Economists argue that without
proper policy interventions, there will continuously be unequal opportunity, while mobility will
deteriorate. Restoring mobility is crucial for those at the bottom

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Works cited
Bloome, Deirdre. "Income inequality and intergenerational income mobility in the United
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Calder, Gideon. How Inequality Runs in Families: Unfair Advantage and the Limits of Social
Mobility. Policy Press, 2016.
Cowen, Tyler. "The inequality that matters." The American Interest 6.3 (2011): 29-38.
Firebaugh, Glenn, and Matthew B. Schroeder. "Does your neighbor’s income affect your
happiness?." American Journal of Sociology 115.3 (2009): 805-831.
Jensen, Lene Arnett, ed. The Oxford handbook of human development and culture: An
interdisciplinary perspective. Oxford Library of Psychology, 2015.
Kahneman, Daniel, et al. "Would you be happier if you were richer? A focusing
illusion." science 312.5782 (2006): 1908-1910.
Littler, Jo. Against meritocracy: Culture, power and myths of mobility. Routledge, 2017.
Payne, Keith. The broken ladder: How inequality affects the way we think, live, and die.
Penguin, 2017.
Piketty, Thomas, and Emmanuel Saez. "Inequality in the long run." Science 344.6186 (2014):
838-843.
Piketty, Thomas. "About capital in the twenty-first century." American Economic Review 105.5
(2015): 48-53.